Tube head equipped with a lid, associated with an improved perforating cap which ensures protection of the lid prior to first use thereof

ABSTRACT

A tube head assembly includes a tube head that includes a lid, a cap that includes a punch and a spacing ring. The ring is dimensioned in such a way as to keep the punch spaced from the lid when the cap is screwed onto the neck. Further, the ring and the cap include lugs and recesses co-operating in such a way as to limit their rotation relative to one another in the direction of screwing of the cap onto the neck.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to FrenchPatent Application Serial Number 1262804, filed Dec. 26, 2012, entitled“TUBE HEAD EQUIPPED WITH A LID, ASSOCIATED WITH AN IMPROVED PERFORATINGCAP WHICH ENSURES PROTECTION OF THE LID PRIOR TO FIRST USE THEREOF”, theentire teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of flexible tubes.

2. Description of the Related Art

Tubes are known which are provided with a lid associated with aperforating cap that includes a punch adapted in order to perforate thelid when the cap is inserted in a first direction into the neck of thetube, and in order to be screwed onto the neck when it is positioned ina second direction on the neck of the tube.

In fact the lid makes it possible to keep the product contained in thetube sealed during its storage prior to its first use, which representsa very significant part of the overall service life of the tube.

However, such solutions are not very practical and not greatlyappreciated by users. They also lead to having a tube with a punch whichprojects from its cap during its use and its storage, and a pushingforce is required in order to pierce the lid with the aid of the punchof the cap.

In order to remedy these drawbacks, solutions have been proposed inwhich the punch is disposed in the cap in such a way as to be able toperforate the lid when the cap is screwed onto the tube head. However,in order to ensure the preservation of the lid prior to the first use, aspacing ring is disposed between the cap and the shoulder of the head ofthe tube, so as to keep the punch spaced apart from the lid when the capis screwed onto the neck.

However, such solutions are very restrictive industrially in that theynecessitate the positioning of several parts on the tube head.

It has likewise been proposed to produce the cap and the ring integrallyformed in one piece, these two elements thus being linked by materialbridges adapted to be broken by screwing or unscrewing of the cap.However, the positioning of the cap on the tube head by machine thenrequires extreme precision in order not to break the material bridgessystematically during capping, making this solution impracticable.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks propose an assembly that includes a tubehead that includes a lid and a cap provided with a punch adapted inorder to ensure the preservation of the lid prior to the first use,whilst being exploitable on an industrial scale for the operations ofmanufacture and positioning of the cap on the tube head.

To this end, the invention proposes an assembly that includes

-   -   a tube head that includes a neck defining a longitudinal axis, a        shoulder and a solid insert forming a lid closing the neck,    -   a cap that includes a punch adapted in order to cut the lid, the        cap being adapted to be screwed onto the neck, and configured in        such a way that when the cap is screwed onto the neck the punch        is inserted into the neck,    -   a removable spacing ring disposed bearing against the shoulder        around the neck,

The ring and the cap can be formed integrally in one piece and joined bymaterial bridges. The ring further can have an internal diameter greaterthan the external diameter of the cap, so as to enable the cap to slidethrough the ring after breakage of the material bridges. Also, the ringcan be dimensioned in such a way as to keep the punch spaced apart fromthe lid when the cap is screwed onto the neck. Finally, the ring and thecap include lugs and recesses co-operating in such a way as to limittheir rotation relative to one another in the direction of screwing ofthe cap on the neck in order to prevent the breakage of the materialbridges between the ring and the cap during the screwing of the cap onthe neck.

According to a particular embodiment, the shoulder includes projectingreliefs adapted to co-operate with non-return means arranged on aninternal wall of the spacing ring in order to block rotation of the ringaround the neck in the direction of unscrewing of the cap from the neck,such that the unscrewing of the cap in relation to the neck results in abreakage of the material bridges in order to detach the spacing ringfrom the cap.

According to a particular embodiment, the punch is adapted in orderafter the withdrawal of the spacing ring from the assembly, when the capis screwed in abutment against the shoulder, to achieve partial cuttingof the lid in order to open the neck, the lid then being attached to theuncut part of the insert by a material bridge.

According to a particular embodiment, the spacing ring includes aplurality of ribs adapted to center the spacing ring around the neck.

According to a particular embodiment, the spacing ring has the shape ofa portion of a circle of which a free end forms a tab which can begripped by a user.

According to a particular embodiment, the punch has a free end bevelledalong a plane inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the neckwhen the cap is screwed onto the neck. The bevelled free end thentypically has a semi-circular cross-section.

Thus the invention ensures retention of the material bridges between thering and the cap during screwing onto the tube head by an industrialcapper, which ensures their relative positioning and therefore enablesthe ring to act as a stop in order to protect the lid from anyperforation or cutting prior to the first use of the assembly by a user.

Also, this retention of the material bridges between the ring and thecap performs a function as an opening witness; the presence of thematerial bridges between the ring and the cap during the first useensures that the cap has never been removed previously.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Other characteristics, objects and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent from the description which follows, which is purelyillustrative and non-limiting, and which should be read in relation tothe appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of an assembly according to one aspect ofthe invention;

FIG. 2 shows a view of a cap and a spacing ring of an assembly accordingto one aspect of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a view of a tube head of an assembly according to oneaspect of the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of means limiting the rotation of the caprelative to the spacing ring according to one aspect of the invention.

In the set of drawings, the elements in common are referenced byidentical reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows an example of an assembly according to one aspect of theinvention, that includes

-   -   a tube head 1,    -   a cap 2, and    -   a removable spacing ring 3.

The tube head 1 includes a neck 11 defining a longitudinal axis Z-Z, ashoulder 12 and a solid insert 13 forming a lid closing the neck 11.

More precisely, the insert 13 includes a peripheral section 16,typically in the shape of a truncated cone or a disc, and a centralsection 17 forming the lid, of which the diameter corresponds typicallyto the internal diameter of the neck 11.

The neck 11 includes a thread 14 on its external periphery, adapted toenable the cap 2 to be screwed onto the neck 11.

The cap 2 includes an internal tapping 21 adapted in order to co-operatewith the thread 14 of the neck 11, and a punch 22 configured in such away as to be inserted in the neck 11 of the tube head 1 when the cap 2is screwed onto the neck 11. A longitudinal direction of the cap 2 isdefined, corresponding to the longitudinal axis Z-Z of the neck 11 whenthe cap 2 is screwed onto the neck 11.

The spacing ring 3 and the cap 2 are integrally formed in one singlepiece, and thus are connected by material bridges 31 shown in FIG. 2.

The spacing ring 3 is configured so as to be able to be able to bedisposed around the neck 11, bearing against the shoulder 12, and thusto maintain a spacing between the cap 2 and the shoulder 12 when the cap2 is screwed onto the neck 11 and the material bridges 31 joining thespacing ring 3 and the cap 2 have not been broken.

More precisely, the spacing ring 3 is configured so as to keep the punch22 spaced apart from the insert 13 when the cap 2 is screwed onto theneck 11 and so that the material bridges 31 linking the spacing ring 3and the cap 2 are not broken, thus preventing the punch from coming intocontact with the insert 13 and therefore preventing it from piercing orcutting the lid formed in the neck 11.

FIG. 1 shows this configuration in which the spacing ring 3 is joined tothe cap 2 by the material bridges 31 and is disposed around the neck 11,bearing against the shoulder 12 whilst the cap 2 is screwed onto theneck 11. The punch 22 then extends in the neck 11, at a distance notequal to zero from the insert 13, thus protecting the lid from anycutting or perforation.

In this way, the assembly formed by the cap 2 and the spacing ring 3 canbe screwed onto the neck 11, until the spacing ring 3 butts against theshoulder 12, the insert 13 being protected from any punching or cuttingas detailed previously.

Moreover, the ring 3 and the cap 2 are produced in such a way that thering 3 has an internal diameter greater than the external diameter ofthe cap 2, in such a way as to allow sliding of the cap 2 through thering 3 after breakage of the material bridges 31.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the punch 22 has a round cylindricalcross-section, of which a free end 23 is bevelled, in such a way thatwhen the cap 2 is screwed onto the neck 11 of the tube head 1, the freeend 23 of the punch 22 is inserted into the neck 11, and that it isbevelled with respect to a plane normal to the axis Z-Z of the neck 11,the lid formed by the insert 13 being typically disposed in such a planenormal to the axis Z-Z of the neck 11.

Consequently the free end 23 of the punch 22 has circular cross-sectioninscribed in a plane inclined relative to the axis Z-Z of the neck 11,which coincides with the longitudinal axis of the cap 2.

In the embodiment shown, a chamfer is also produced at the internal edgeof the free end 23 of the punch 22, thus making it possible to reducethe thickness thereof in order to give the free end 23 a cuttingfunction, which facilitates the cutting of the lid by the punch 22.

According to another embodiment, the punch 22 of the cap 2 has a freeend 23 similar to that shown in FIG. 1, but extending solely over abevelled semicircle as described previously, the other part of the freeend 23 being recessed in such a way as to be set back from the bevelledsemicircle.

Such a shape favours the cutting of the lid by the punch, whilst thepreceding embodiment provides cutting of the punch by compression.

The shoulder 12 of the tube head 1 includes optional reliefs 15projecting radially from the junction between the neck 11 and theshoulder 12.

The spacing ring 3 is equipped with means such as internal ribs 32adapted to co-operate with the reliefs 15 in order to enable the ring torotate around the neck 12 along the axis Z-Z only in a single directioncorresponding to the direction of screwing of the cap 2 on the neck 11,the reliefs 15 co-operating with the ribs 32 in order to prevent therotation of the spacing ring 3 around the neck 12 in the direction ofunscrewing of the cap 2 from the neck 11 of the tube head 1.

FIG. 3 shows an example of an embodiment that includes reliefs 15,having a generally helical shape around the axis Z-Z.

Multiple embodiments are possible; the reliefs 15 may for example formarcs of circles extending from the centre of the neck 11 in order toform a generally spiral shape, or also a general shape of a toothedwheel.

During the first use, the user unscrews the cap 2 from the neck 11. Thereliefs 15 and internal ribs 32 then co-operate in order to block therotation of the spacing ring 3.

The spacing ring 3 therefore remains immobile whilst the cap 2 isunscrewed, which causes a breakage of the material bridges 31 and thedetachment of the ring 3 relative to the cap 2.

Once the cap 2 is unscrewed and removed from the neck 11, the userremoves the spacing ring 3 by making it slide along the neck 11, thenscrews the cap 2 onto the neck 11 again, until the cap 2 is buttedagainst the neck 11 or against the shoulder 12, which results in cuttingor perforation of the lid formed by the central section 17 of the insert13 by the punch 22 of the cap 2 of which the free end 23 passes throughthe central section 17 of the insert 13.

The cutting of the lid is advantageously partial, in such a way that theportion or the portions of the lid which has or have been cut remainjoined to the rest of the insert 13, thus preventing any mixing of thematerial forming the insert 13 with a product contained in theassociated tube, and a possible dispensing of this material to the user.

By way of example, considering that complete cutting is cutting at 360°of the lid, that is to say circular cutting performed by rotation of thecap 2, a cut of between 250° and 330° is advantageously made, thusforming a sufficient link in order to ensure the cohesion between thecentral section 17 which has been cut, and the peripheral section 16.

On an industrial scale, the capping, that is to say the step duringwhich the cap 2 is screwed onto the neck 11, is typically performed bymeans of a capper. However, it is very delicate to configure such amachine in order for it to screw the cap 2 onto the neck 11 as far asthe precise point where the spacing ring 3 butts against the shoulder 11whilst protecting the material bridges 31. Indeed, if the rotation ofthe cap 2 in order to screw it onto the neck 11 is slightly too great,the material bridges 31 break, and the cap 2 is detached from thespacing ring 3.

In order to avoid such a risk of breakage of the material bridges 31during capping, the spacing ring 3 and the cap 2 comprise lugs 34 andrecesses 35 co-operating in such a way as to limit their rotationrelative to one another in the direction of screwing of the cap 2 on theneck 11 in order to prevent the breakage of the material bridges betweenthe ring 3 and the cap 2 during the screwing of the cap 2 on the neck11.

FIG. 4 shows a partial view of an embodiment wherein the lugs 34 areproduced on the internal surface of the spacing ring 3 in the form ofinternal ribs whilst the recesses 35 are arranged on the externalperiphery of the cap 2. The view shown in FIG. 4 is a sectional viewalong the plane A-A shown in FIG. 1.

The lugs 34 and recesses 35 are arranged in such a way that they onlylimit the relative rotation between the cap 2 and the spacing ring 3 inthe direction corresponding to the screwing of the cap 2 onto the neck11—conventionally the clockwise direction and represented by an arrow inFIG. 4, wherein the relative rotation between the cap 2 and the spacingring 3 in the direction corresponding to the unscrewing of the cap 2from the neck 11—conventionally the anticlockwise direction—is possibleand enables the user to break the material bridges 31 in order toseparate the cap 2 and the spacing ring 3.

The lugs 34 typically extend in a plane perpendicular to the axis Z-Z ofthe neck 11.

As can be seen in FIG. 4, because the lugs 34 and recesses 35 areseparate, a limited relative rotation between the cap 2 and the spacingring 3 is possible due to a spacing 36 between the lugs 34 and therecesses 35.

The spacing 36 between the lugs 34 and the recesses 35 is dimensionedaccording to the mechanical properties of the material from which thecap 2 and the spacing ring 3 are formed and in particular according toits resilient and plastic deformation properties, in such a way that therelative rotation which it enables between the cap 2 and the ring 3results in a deformation of the material bridges 31 less than itsresistance to breakage. According to a particular embodiment, thespacing 36 is equal to 0.5 mm, therefore corresponding to the distancebetween the lugs 34 and the recesses 35 in the absence of deformation ofthe cap 2 and of the ring 3.

Thus the present invention allows to ensure the preservation of thematerial bridges 31 joining the cap 2 and the spacing ring 3 during thecapping, which thus allows to ensure the preservation of the lid priorto the first use due to the spacing function performed by the ring whichallows to maintain a spacing between the punch 22 of the cap 2 and thelid of the tube head 1.

In addition, the invention allows to ensure a function as openingwitness. Indeed, during the first use, the user unscrews the cap 2 fromthe neck 11; the reliefs 15 and internal ribs 32 then co-operate inorder to block the rotation of the spacing ring 3.

The spacing ring 3 then remains immobile whilst the cap 2 is unscrewed,which causes a breakage of the material bridges 31 and the detachment ofthe ring 3 relative to the cap 2, and thus allows easily to identify atube which has already been used.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tube head assembly comprising a tube headcomprising a neck defining a longitudinal axis (Z-Z), a shoulder and asolid insert forming a lid closing said neck, a cap comprising a punchadapted in order to cut the lid, said cap being adapted to be screwedonto said neck, and configured in such a way that when said cap isscrewed onto the neck the punch is inserted into the neck, and aremovable spacing ring disposed bearing against the shoulder around theneck, the ring and the cap being formed integrally in one piece andjoined by material bridges, said ring having an internal diametergreater than the external diameter of said cap, so as to enable the capto slide through the ring after breakage of said material bridges, saidring being dimensioned in such a way as to keep the punch spaced apartfrom the lid when the cap is screwed onto the neck; characterised inthat the ring and the cap comprise lugs and recesses co-operating insuch a way as to limit their rotation relative to one another in thedirection of screwing of the cap on the neck in order to prevent thebreakage of said material bridges between the ring and the cap duringthe screwing of the cap onto the neck.
 2. The assembly according toclaim 1, wherein said shoulder comprises projecting reliefs adapted toco-operate with non-return means arranged on an internal wall of thespacing ring in order to block rotation of the ring around the neck inthe direction of unscrewing of the cap from the neck, such that theunscrewing of the cap in relation to the neck results in a breakage ofthe material bridges in order to detach the spacing ring from the cap.3. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said punch is adapted inorder after the withdrawal of the spacing ring from the assembly, whensaid cap is screwed in abutment against the shoulder, to achieve partialcutting of said lid in order to open said neck, the lid then beingattached to the uncut part of the insert by a material bridge.
 4. Theassembly according to claim 1, wherein said spacing ring comprises aplurality of ribs adapted to centre the spacing ring around the neck. 5.The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said spacing ring has theshape of a portion of a circle of which a free end forms a tab which canbe gripped by a user.
 6. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein saidlugs and the recesses are configured in such a way as to define aspacing in the absence of a screwing force, said spacing being equal to0.5 millimetres.
 7. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein saidpunch has a free end bevelled along a plane inclined with respect to thelongitudinal axis (Z-Z) of the neck when the cap is screwed onto saidneck.
 8. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein said bevelled freeend has a semi-circular cross-section.